October 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will examining key current issues and priorities going forward for further education in England.
It is bringing together key stakeholders and policy makers, with the DfE currently drafting a White Paper for further education.
The conference will also be an opportunity to discuss
The discussion at a glance:
- the Report of the independent review of college financial oversight conducted by Dame Mary Ney which recommends:
- nurturing colleges on an individual basis - a shift from the current approach, to spot early signs of weakness in college finances
- stronger and more proactive relationships - to be built with colleges from the start of this terms
- introduction of new whistleblowing arrangements
- COVID-19 - the experience and impact of the pandemic for colleges, immediate implications and priorities, and what can be learned and applied going forward
- capital investment in the FE sector - priorities for the future
- financial sustainability - and collaboration between colleges and the impact of mergers and interventions
- managing change - restructuring colleges, the future of the merger process and supporting the FE workforce
- decision-making - the autonomy that colleges have on decisions relating to tackling local skills gaps and the qualifications that they choose to offer
- preparing for the future - FE and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- FE and society - positioning colleges at the centre of their communities, and asserting their role in addressing local and national skills gaps and promoting lifelong learning
The discussion in detail:
The COVID-19 crisis
- how colleges have adapted - maintaining provision during the pandemic
- future delivery of teaching - with a potential move to more online or blended learning
- economic impact - the broader national industrial strategy and future skills gaps and in assisting young people in gaining employment
- international students - potential implications of the likely reduction in numbers, particularly in the short term
- T Levels - initial implementation, with some colleges choosing to pause their implementation this September, and others now teaching the new qualifications
- The future role of FE colleges in the provision of level 3 qualifications for adults under government plans for a ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ through the National Skills Fund
Finance and collaboration
- financial resilience and quality - the government approach to supporting colleges and intervening to support improvement
- use of increased funding - how new investment by government is being used by colleges, and how to maximise its impact going forward
- collaboration - ways that colleges are effectively working together, particularly in overcoming funding pressures and to improve provision
- financial planning - in light of capital investment commitments by the Government, how colleges can develop effective plans to ensure that the money is spent effectively
Mergers and oversight
- college governance - potential models, with suggestions that some colleges might be brought under state control
- oversight measures - designed to improve the sustainability of the sector, with discussion on how colleges are adapting
- mergers - the future of the merger process and whether structural changes resulting from area reviews have led to a more robust and sustainable college sector and improved learning experience
- FE Commissioner actions - assessing steps taken, such as structure and prospects appraisals (SPAs), in evaluating merger proposals and what can be learnt from the initial area review process
Staffing
- Skills and support - priorities for supporting the FE workforce and ensuring appropriate levels of expertise
- recruitment and retention of future leaders
Contribution to the community and local economy
- colleges as anchor institutions for their local communities - how to cement their position, with Government recently urging colleges to engage with the £3.6bn Towns Fund in their local area
- Institutes of Technology - their development to deliver technical education, with the second wave of competition launching later in the year aiming to ensure they cover all parts of England
- meeting local need - the development of specialist colleges to meet the needs of local economies and what local communities and employers should be able to expect from colleges
- local business engagement - strategies for improving connections and collaboration between colleges and local businesses
- the levelling up policy agenda - the role colleges can play in tackling regional inequalities and improving local productivity through providing an effective lifelong learning service
- FE colleges and HE - developing the relationship, including the future balance of funding and discussion on which sector should be providing which courses
A scan of key developments:
- Major expansion of post-18 education and training to level up and prepare workers for post-COVID economy - a Lifetime Skills Guarantee through the National Skills Fund with free college lessons for adults without A Levels
- FE White Paper - expected publication by the Department for Education, with a focus on funding, skills and qualifications, institutional autonomy, developing a nationally collaborative but regionally focussed approach to FE across England, the workforce and careers
- Colleges to receive £200 million to transform their buildings - the recent announcement that £200m will be brought forward for urgent repairs in 2020/21
- the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs - including the announcement of £111m in funding for traineeships
- Multi-million-pound fund to boost standards across the FE sector - government commitment to funding for the sector with the aim of strengthening leadership and governance across FE through:
- introduction of the College collaboration fund (CCF) to support colleges working together to boost the quality of education and training on offer
- investment in tailored CPD for college leaders and governors across a range of areas
- Budget 2020 - which included commitments from Government including:
- the introduction of a £600m-a-year National Skills Fund
- a commitment of £1.8bn for capital investment in the FE estate,
The agenda:
- An overview of the current FE landscape
- Where will the DfE white paper take the college and FE sector?
- Improving the oversight of colleges and adapting to the new insolvency regime - mergers, restructuring and sources of funding
- Understanding the context for the White Paper
- Further education and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Enhancing FE provision in colleges - curriculum, online delivery, careers advice, links with employers, routes into HE, and learning from the impact of the pandemic
- The College of the Future - latest findings from the Independent Commission
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from the Department for Education; the Cabinet Office; the National Audit Office; the DCMS; the Department for International Trade; Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service; the Home Office; the Ministry of Justice; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from ACL Essex; Ascentis; Babcock Technical Academy; Cambridge Assessment International Education; Canterbury Christ Church University; CITB; Construction Industry Training Board; Copyright Licensing Agency; D2N2 LEP; Durham University; East Sussex College Group; Emsi; Eversheds Sutherland (International); Hammersmith Society; KPMG; Mills & Reeve; National Deaf Children's Society; NCG; Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach; NOCN Group; North East LEP; North Lincolnshire Council; Office of the Independent Adjudicator; Ofqual; Sheffield Hallam University; Stockton Riverside College; Stone King; Student Loans Company; Sussex Learning Network; The Open University; UAL Awarding Body; University for the Creative Arts and Westminster Kingsway College.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
